The Crucible by Arthur Miller is a play written in 1952, about black magic and witch preliminaries that had occurred in Salem, Massachusetts. John Hales main responsibility is to analyze black magic on the off chance that it is available, and afterward give an essential…
The Crucible Essay Examples and Topics
by Arthur Miller
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Being Puritans with a religion that teaches them that the most important thing in life is how they will be judged by God after death, almost every character in The Crucible is preoccupied with the concept of “goodness.” As we see in the play, this…
In “The Crucible”, written by Arthur Miller, fear played a major role in causing mass hysteria as well as the abandonment of one’s loyalties. Unfortunately, this feeling led to a growing community full of accusations as well as violence. The public became part of a…
Studies have shown that emotional reactions are almost impossible to ignore; it is almost as if it is automatic, when stressed, or pressured, humans naturally have a negative reaction, therefore, they lash out and get angry or frustrated. In Arthur Miller’s ‘The Crucible’ times of…
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A tragic hero is the main character in a tragedy, the person is a very prestigious character who has a tragic flaw which causes his or her downfall. This flaw causes the character to suffer greatly. In the play The Crucible by Arthur Miller, the…
Best topics on The Crucible
The Crucible essay focuses on the 1953 play by Arthur Miller. The play describes a partially fictional version of the Salem witch trials during 1692-1693, however, it was also written
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as an allegory for the practice of making accusations of treason or subversion without proper supporting evidence. Such methods were frequently employed by the US government during the Cold War, especially by the infamous Committee on Un-American Activities, when they accused people of being communists and persecuted them. Frequent topics related to this play are social injustice, mob mentality, comparisons with other works of art with similar themes like vindication, redemption, etc. and comparison with historical or present acts of persecution of minorities.
Date
22 January 1953
Author
Arthur Miller
Type
Play
Genre
Tragedy
Major Characters
Abigail Williams, Reverend John Hale, Reverend Parris, Elizabeth Proctor, Francis Nurse, Rebecca Nurse, Giles Corey, Judge Danfort,
Based On
Miller wrote the play as an allegory, in an attempt to criticize his government’s persecution of people for accusations of communism.
Symbols/Motives
Symbolism, people’s paranoia about other people’s lifestyle and points of view
Influence
The Crucible is regarded as one of the most important works in American drama. It has been adapted for the cinema three times.
Plot
In Salem, a Puritan town, Reverend Parris comes to be the new minister. He finds his daughter Betty and niece Abigail dancing with his slave Tituba in the forest. Betty is shocked when seeing her father, and she faints without waking. After that, rumors about witchcraft start spreading among the villagers. Reverend Hale arrives in town to begin a thorough investigation. Several women are accused of witchcraft. In the second act, the author compares these events to the fears of Communism that spread among American citizens after World War II. The story continues with arresting nearly forty people for witchcraft in Salem. The trials cause riots and anger in nearby towns.
Why Is This Topic Important?
The play is tremendously emotional, with several twists between the lines. Readers can explore evil and feelings of hate and anger, but pureness as well.
Main Ideas
The idea of goodness vs. evil is the major theme throughout the play. All characters are taught to be good by their religion, so they try to find goodness in the reality of their lives.
Key Quotes
- “Peace. It is a providence, and no great change; we are only what we always were, but naked now.”
- “We are what we always were in Salem, but now the little crazy children are jangling the keys of the kingdom, and common vengeance writes the law.”
- “Life, woman, life is God’s most precious gift; no principle, however glorious, may justify the taking of it.”
Interesting Facts
The play’s first performance was on Broadway. Madeleine Sherwood, Beatrice Straight, and E. G. Marshall were the leading stars.
Arguments For
The play is easy to read, and it’s appropriate for high-school and college students. They can explore its different layers behind the major theme of good vs. evil.
Arguments Against
There are a few structural flaws in the plot, and several characters that lack depth.
